Sprint kayaking and canoeing performance prediction based on the relationship between maturity status, anthropometry and physical fitness in young elite paddlers

This study aimed to identify the maturity-related differences and its influence on the physical fitness, morphological and performance characteristics of young elite paddlers. In total, 89 kayakers and 82 canoeists, aged 13.69 ± 0.57 years (mean ± s), were allocated in three groups depending on their age relative to the age at peak height velocity (pre-APHV, circum-APHV and post-APHV) and discipline (kayak and canoe). Nine anthropometric variables, a battery of four physical fitness tests (overhead medicine ball throw, countermovement jump, sit-and-reach test and 20 m multistage shuttle run test) and three specific performance tests (1000, 500 and 200 m) were assessed. Both disciplines presented significant maturity-based differences in all anthropometric parameters (except for fat and muscle mass percentage), overhead medicine ball throw and all performance times (pre > circum > post; P < 0.05). Negative and significant correlations (P < 0.01) were detected between performance times, chronological age and anthropometry (body mass, height, sitting height and maturity status), overhead medicine ball throw and sit and reach for all distances. These findings confirm the importance of maturity status in sprint kayaking and canoeing since the more mature paddlers were also those who revealed largest body size, physical fitness level and best paddling performance. Additionally, the most important variables predicting performance times in kayaking and canoeing were maturity status and chronological age, respectively.Actividad Física y Deport

Kinematic Variables Evolution During a 200-m Maximum Test in Young Paddlers

The objective of this research was to determine the kinematic variables evolution in a sprint canoeing maximal test over 200 m, comparing women and men kayak paddlers and men canoeists. Speed evolution, cycle frequency, cycle length and cycle index were analysed each 50 m section in fifty-two young paddlers (20 male kayakers, 17 female kayakers and 15 male canoeists; 13-14 years-old). Recordings were taken from a boat which followed each paddler trial in order to measure the variables cited above. Kinematic evolution was similar in the three categories, the speed and cycle index decreased through the test after the first 50 m. Significant differences were observed among most of the sections in speed and the cycle index (p<0.05 and <0.01, respectively). Cycle length remained stable showing the lowest values in the first section when compared with the others (p<0.01). Cycle frequency progressively decreased along the distance. Significant differences were identified in the majority of the sections (p<0.01). Men kayakers attained higher values in all the variables than women kayakers and men canoeists, but only such variables as speed, cycle length and cycle index were observed to be significantly higher (p<0.01). Moreover, lower kinematic values were obtained from men canoeists. The study of the evolution of kinematic variables can provide valuable information for athletes and coaches while planning training sessions and competitions.Actividad Física y Deport

Morphological and physical fitness profile of young female sprint kayakers.

Traditionally, physical and anthropometrical profiles of the most successful kayak athletes have been identified in male kayakers. This study attempted to identify the differences in morphology and fitness level of two performance-based groups of young elite female paddlers. Eighty-six female kayakers, aged 13.62 ± 0.57 years (mean ± SD) were allocated in two groups (Top-10 and Rest) depending on their ranking in the three Olympic distances (200, 500 and 1000 meters). All subjects underwent a battery of anthropometrical (heights, weight, girths and sum of skinfolds), physical fitness (overhead medicine ball throw, countermovement jump, sit-and-reach test and 20-m multistage shuttle run test) and specific performance assessments (200, 500 and 1000 meters). Best paddlers presented significantly greater anthropometrical values in muscle mass percentage, maturity status and chronological age (p < 0.05) whereas physical fitness comparison only revealed significant differences in countermovement jump (p < 0.05). Furthermore, aerobic power and muscle mass percentage appear to be crucial in achieving optimal performances at long (1000-m) and short duration races (200 and 500-m). These findings confirm the importance of a larger and compact morphology, as well as superior fitness level, for success in female kayakers. The current results not only identify the weak areas on body composition and physical fitness depending on the maturity status but also the development of specific training programs for FEMALES.Actividad Física y Deport

The effects of a reformer Pilates program on body composition and morphological characteristics in active women after a detraining period

The aim of this quasi-experimental pilot study was to explore the effects of a reformer Pilates program on the anthropometry, body composition, and somatotype of active adult women after a short non-exercise period. Twenty-eight women (mean age: 40.21 ± standard deviation of 8.12 years old) with one to three years of reformer Pilates experience participated in the study. The women participated in a reformer Pilates program for 16 weeks (one hour, twice per week) after 4 weeks of detraining (summer holidays) in 2012. The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry full profile was assessed before and after the intervention program. Significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) from pre- to post-program were observed for triceps, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal, front thigh and medial calf skinfold thicknesses, six and eight skinfold thickness sums, forearm and ankle girths, waist/hip ratio, endomorphy, and fat mass. Significant increases (p ≤ .05) were observed for corrected arm, corrected calf girths, and muscle mass. Generally, women showed a mesomorphic endomorph (endomorphy predominant) and mesomorph–endomorph (endomorphy and mesomorphy predominant) in the pre- and posttests, respectively. In conclusion, the practice of reformer Pilates was associated with healthy changes in anthropometric parameters, body composition, and somatotype in Pilates-experienced women after 4 weeks of no physical exercise.Actividad Física y Deport

High-Resolution Detection of Rock-Forming Minerals by Permittivity Measurements with a Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscope

[EN] The identification of the minerals composing rocks and their dielectric characterization is essential for the utilization of microwave energy in the rock industry. This paper describes the use of a near-field scanning microwave microscope with enhanced sensitivity for non-invasive measurements of permittivity maps of rock specimens at the micrometer scale in non-contact mode. The microwave system comprises a near-field probe, an in-house single-port vectorial reflectometer, and all circuitry and software needed to make a stand-alone, portable instrument. The relationship between the resonance parameters of the near-field probe and the dielectric properties of materials was determined by a combination of classical cavity perturbation theory and an image charge model. The accuracy of this approach was validated by a comparison study with reference materials. The device was employed to determine the permittivity maps of a couple of igneous rock specimens with low-loss and high-loss minerals. The dielectric results were correlated with the minerals comprising the samples and compared with the dielectric results reported in the literature, with excellent agreements.This paper has been financially supported through the grant reference BES-2016-077296 of the call Convocatoria de las ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formacion de doctores de 2016 by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and by European Social Funds (ESF) of European Union, and the project SEDMICRON-TEC2015-70272-R (MINECO/FEDER) supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) and by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) of European Union.Gutiérrez Cano, JD.; Catalá Civera, JM.; López Buendía, ÁM.; Plaza González, PJ.; Penaranda-Foix, FL. (2022). High-Resolution Detection of Rock-Forming Minerals by Permittivity Measurements with a Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscope. Sensors. 22(3):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/s2203113811722

Evalución con pet/ct 11c-colina de recidivas bioquímicas ocultas de carcinoma de próstata

Introducció. Material y mètodes. El nostre objectiu és valorar la utilitat del PET/CT 11C-Colina a la recidiva bioquímica oculta del carcinoma de pròstata. Es van estudiar retrospectivament 58 pacients amb aument de PSA posttractament. La interpretació de les imatges fou visual. Resultats: El PET/CT fou positiu en 39 pacients (67%) (PSA mitjà: 11.7). Es van dividir els malats en 4 grups segons el valor del PSA (sensibilitat%): a 5ng/ml:91% . Conclusió: La PET/CT 11C-Colina mostra una alta capacitat de detecció per valors de PSA superiors a 5ng/ml i pot ser útil en valors superiors a 1ng/ml.Introducción. Material y métodos. Nuestro objetivo es valorar la utilidad del PET/CT 11C-Colina en la recidiva bioquímica oculta del carcinoma de próstata. Se estudiaron manera retrospectiva 58 pacientes con aumento de PSA posttratamiento. La interpretación de las imágenes fue visual. Resultados: El PET/CT fue positivo en 39 pacientes (67%) (PSA medio: 11.7). Se dividieron los pacientes en 4 grupos según el valor del PSA (sensibilidad %): a 5ng/ml:91% . Conclusión: La PET/CT 11C-Colina muestra una alta capacidad de detección para PSA superiores a 5ng/ml y puede ser útil en valores superiores a 1ng/ml

Usporedba fleksibilnosti stražnje strane natkoljenice i položaja kralježnice u kajakaša i kanuista

The aims of this study were: 1) to determine the differences in hamstring extensibility between kneeling and forward legs in a group of canoeists; 2) to compare hamstring extensibility between canoeists and kayakers; and 3) to compare the sagittal spinal posture and pelvic tilt in the maximal trunk flexion with knees extended in kayakers and canoeists. Ninety-nine young male paddlers (17.51±6.15 years) (35 kayakers, 35 right-side canoeists and 29 left-side canoeists) participated in this study. Hamstring muscle extensibility was determined in both legs throughout the passive straight-leg raise test (PSLR) and the sit-and-reach test. Sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt were measured in the maximal trunk flexion with knees extended (sit-and-reach test) using a Spinal Mouse. The hamstring extensibility of the forward leg was higher than the kneeling leg ones in both groups of canoeists (p<.001). No significant differences were found between the right and left legs in kayakers. The kayakers showed the highest values in PSLR, sit-and-reach test, lumbar angle and pelvic tilt, whereas the canoeists obtained the lowest values in the thoracic angle. There were no significant differences between the canoeists who paddle on the left and those that paddle on the right side of the canoe either in the spinal or in the pelvic postures. In conclusion, the asymmetric movement of canoeing is associated with differences in hamstring extensibility between the kneeling and forward legs. The canoeists showed higher extensibility in the forward leg than in the kneeling leg. Furthermore, a greater hamstring extensibility is associated with a lower thoracic angle and higher lumbar flexion and pelvic tilt in the sit-and-reach test.Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je: 1) utvrditi razlike u fleksibilnosti stražnje strane natkoljenice između noge u kleku i prednje noge u skupini kanuista, 2) usporediti fleksibilnost stražnje strane natkoljenice između kanuista i kajakaša te 3) usporediti sagitalni položaj kralježnice i kut zdjelice u maksimalnoj fleksiji trupa ispruženih nogu u kajakaša i kanuista. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo devedeset i devet mladih (dob 17,51 ± 6,15 godina) muških kanuista i kajakaša (35 kajakaša te 35 kanuista koji veslaju s desne strane i 29 kanuista koji veslaju s lijeve strane). Fleksibilnost stražnje strane natkoljenice mjerena je na obje noge testovima: prednoženje pružene noge iz ležanja na leđima i testom ‘sit-and-reach’. Sagitalna zakrivljenost kralježnice i nagib zdjelice izmjereni su u maksimalnoj fleksiji trupa s pruženim nogama (test sit-and-reach) upotrebom sprave ‘Spinal Mouse’. Utvrđeno je da je fleksibilnost stražnje strane natkoljenice prednje noge značajno veća od fleksibilnosti noge u kleku u obje skupine kanuista (p<0,001). Nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika između fleksibilnosti lijeve i desne noge u kajakaša. Kajakaši su ostvarili najviše vrijednosti u testovima prednoženje iz ležanja, sit-and-reach, lumbalnom kutu i nagibu zdjelice, dok su kanuisti postigli najniže vrijednosti u prsnom kutu. Nije utvrđena značajna razlika u položajima kralježnice ili zdjelice između kanuista koji veslaju s različitih strana kanua. Zaključno, asimetrični pokreti u kanuu povezani su s razlikama u fleksibilnosti stražnje strane natkoljenice između noge u kleku i prednje noge. U kanuista je fleksibilnost prednje noge veća od fleksibilnosti noge u kleku. Osim toga, veća fleksibilnost stražnje strane natkoljenice povezana je s nižim prsnim kutom te većom lumbalnom fleksijom i većim nagibom zdjelice u testu sit-and-reach

Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization

[EN] Many efforts are being made to find innovative ways of recycling rubber from end-of-life tires (ELTs), also called ground tire Rubber (GTR). Recycling through devulcanization allows the reintroduction of rubber back into the manufacturing industry. Such a process requires providing enough energy to break the sulfur links, while preventing damage to the polymeric chain. Microwave heating is controllable, efficient, and it does not rely on conventional heating mechanisms (conduction, convection) which may involve high heating losses, but rather on direct dielectric heating. However, to adequately control the microwave-assisted devulcanization performance, a thorough knowledge of the GTR permittivity versus temperature is required. In this work, GTR permittivity was monitored during its devulcanization. A resonant technique based on a dual-mode cylindrical cavity was used to simultaneously heat rubber and measure its permittivity at around 2 GHz. The results show sharp changes in the GTR permittivity at 160 and 190 degrees C. After the GTR cooled down, a shifted permittivity evidences a change in the GTR structure caused by the devulcanization process. Microwave-assisted devulcanization effectiveness is proven through time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, by verifying the decrease in the cross-link density of processed GTR samples compared to the original sample.This research project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 870,000. More information at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/870000 (accessed on 27 August 2022) and https://valuerubber.eu/(accessed on 27 August 2022). JLV and FMS also thanks the funding from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PID2020-119047RB-I00 y PLEC2021-007793), Gobierno de Aragon (EC-22-2021) and CSIC (201860E045).Pérez-Campos, R.; Fayos-Fernández, J.; Monzó-Cabrera, J.; Martín Salamanca, F.; López Valentín, J.; Catalá Civera, JM.; Plaza González, PJ.... (2022). Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization. Polymers. 14(17):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173543121141

In vivo multimodal imaging of adenosine A1 receptors in neuroinflammation after experimental stroke

Adenosine A(l) receptors (A(l)ARs) are promising imaging biomarkers and targets for the treatment of stroke. Nevertheless, the role of A(l)ARs on ischemic damage and its subsequent neuroinflammatory response has been scarcely explored so far. Methods: In this study, the expression of A(1)ARs after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was evaluated by positron emission tomography (PET) with [F-18]CPFPX and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, the role of AIARs on stroke inflammation using pharmacological modulation was assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PET imaging with [F-18]DPA-714 (TSPO) and [F-18]FLT (cellular proliferation), as well as IHC and neurofunctional studies. Results: In the ischemic territory, [F-18]CPFPX signal and IHC showed the overexpression of A(l)ARs in microglia and infiltrated leukocytes after cerebral ischemia. Ischemic rats treated with the AAR agonist ENBA showed a significant decrease in both [F-18]DPA-714 and [F-18]FLT signal intensities at day 7 after cerebral ischemia, a feature that was confirmed by IHC results. Besides, the activation of A(l)AR promoted the reduction of the brain lesion, as measured with T2W-MRI, and the improvement of neurological outcome including motor, sensory and reflex responses. These results show for the first time the in vivo PET imaging of A(l)AR expression after cerebral ischemia in rats and the application of [F-18]FLT to evaluate glial proliferation in response to treatment. Conclusion: Notably, these data provide evidence for A(l)AR playing a key role in the control of both the activation of resident glia and the de novo proliferation of microglia and macrophages after experimental stroke in rats.The authors would like to thank A. Leukona and V. Salinas for technical support in the radiosynthesis. This study was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science/FEDER RYC-201722412, SAF2016-75292-R, SAF2017-87670-R and PID2019-107989RB-I00, the Basque Government (IT1203/19, BIO18/IC/006) and CIBERNED. Maria Ardaya holds a fellowship from the University of Pais Vasco. Ana Joya acknowledges funding from Fundacio La Marato de TV3 (17/C/2017). Juan Jose Gutierrez acknowledges funding from Euskampus Fundazioa. Jordi Llop also acknowledges The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant CTQ2017-87637-R). Part of the work has been performed under the Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence Program from the Spanish State Research Agency (Grant No. MDM-2017-0720)

Predicting Clinical Outcome with Phenotypic Clusters in COVID-19 Pneumonia: An Analysis of 12,066 Hospitalized Patients from the Spanish Registry SEMI-COVID-19

(1) Background: Different clinical presentations in COVID-19 are described to date, from mild to severe cases. This study aims to identify different clinical phenotypes in COVID-19 pneumonia using cluster analysis and to assess the prognostic impact among identified clusters in such patients. (2) Methods: Cluster analysis including 11 phenotypic variables was performed in a large cohort of 12,066 COVID-19 patients, collected and followed-up from 1 March to 31 July 2020, from the nationwide Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI)-COVID-19 Registry. (3) Results: Of the total of 12,066 patients included in the study, most were males (7052, 58.5%) and Caucasian (10,635, 89.5%), with a mean age at diagnosis of 67 years (standard deviation (SD) 16). The main pre-admission comorbidities were arterial hypertension (6030, 50%), hyperlipidemia (4741, 39.4%) and diabetes mellitus (2309, 19.2%). The average number of days from COVID-19 symptom onset to hospital admission was 6.7 (SD 7). The triad of fever, cough, and dyspnea was present almost uniformly in all 4 clinical phenotypes identified by clustering. Cluster C1 (8737 patients, 72.4%) was the largest, and comprised patients with the triad alone. Cluster C2 (1196 patients, 9.9%) also presented with ageusia and anosmia; cluster C3 (880 patients, 7.3%) also had arthromyalgia, headache, and sore throat; and cluster C4 (1253 patients, 10.4%) also manifested with diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Compared to each other, cluster C1 presented the highest in-hospital mortality (24.1% vs. 4.3% vs. 14.7% vs. 18.6%; p 20 bpm, lower PaO2/FiO2 at admission, higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the phenotypic cluster as independent factors for in-hospital death. (4) Conclusions: The present study identified 4 phenotypic clusters in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, which predicted the in-hospital prognosis of clinical outcomes